Roohi Bano (Urdu: روحی بانو), (August 10, 1951 – January 25, 2019) was a Pakistani actress who was known for her roles in television dramas Kiran Kahani, Zard Gulab, and Darwaza.[3][4][5] She along with Uzma Gillani, Tahira Naqvi and Khalida Riyasat dominated Pakistan's television screens from the 1970s, to the 1990s.[6] She was known as the Queen of Melancholy because of her portrayal of mournful and pessimistic roles in dramas and films.[1]

Roohi Bano
روحی بانو
Born
Roohi Bano

(1951-08-10)10 August 1951
Died25 January 2019(2019-01-25) (aged 67)
NationalityPakistani
Other namesThe Queen of Melancholy[1]
EducationGovernment College University, Lahore
Occupations
Years active1968 – 2010
Children1
Parent(s)Alla Rakha (father)
Zeenat Begum (mother)
RelativesRubina Yasmeen (sister)
Taufiq Qureshi (half-brother)
Zakir Hussain (half-brother)
Fazal Qureshi (half-brother)
Isabella Qureshi (niece)
Anisa Qureshi (niece)
Razia Khan (half-sister)
Bilquis Hussain (step-sister)
Khurshid Aulia (half-sister)
Shikaar Naad Qureshi (nephew)
AwardsPride of Performance (1981)[2]

Early life

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Roohi Bano was born in Karachi on 10 August 1951.[7] She was the daughter of Alla Rakha, a noted tabla player of India and half-sister of Indian music virtuoso Ustad Zakir Hussain.[8][9][4]

Career

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Roohi joined television when she was doing her Masters in Psychology from the Government College, Lahore.[10][11]

She is reported to have "witnessed the birth of the television industry in Pakistan...".[3] Roohi acted memorably in Kiran Kahani (1973), Zard Gulab, Darwaza and many other famous TV dramas (nearly a 150 TV dramas in all) in the 1970s and 1980s.[4] She was conferred the Pride of Performance award by the President of Pakistan in 1981.[2][10] She also earned many PTV awards, notably Nigar Award, Graduate Award and Lux Lifetime Achievement Award.[2][12]

Personal life

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Roohi married twice but both of her marriages were unsuccessful. She had one son.[4]

Later life and death

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In 2005, her 20-year-old only son was murdered by unidentified killers near his residence in Gulberg III, Lahore. His body was dumped alongside a fence where a passerby spotted it. After her son's murder, Roohi had abandoned her acting career, led a lonely life in Lahore and she never fully recovered from this tragic event in her life.[3][11] In her later life, she was diagnosed with schizophrenia.[4] She also spent some years at the well known rehabilitation centre Fountain House in Lahore. Her sister had her admitted to the rehabilitation centre in 2005.[4][13][11]

Roohi died in Istanbul on 25 January 2019.[14] She had had kidney disease and a mental disorder. She had been on a ventilator for 10 days before she died.[15] According to her sister, Rubina Yasmeen, her family had travelled to Istanbul, Turkey to be with her in her last days.[11][7][16]

Filmography

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Television series

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Year Title Role Network
1971 Dastak Na Do Simi PTV
1973 Kiran Kahani Kiran Asim
1974 Zair, Zabar, Pesh Sabeen
1975 Dastan-e-Habib Mumtaz
Ishtebah-e-Nazar Feroza
Maraat-e-Muhabbat Shahida
1979 Pakki Haveli Reshma
Kacha Sheesha Saima
1980 Karwan Mina
1981 Darwaza Zareena Chaudhry
Kaanch Ka Pul Shahida
Dehleez Saeeda Naseem
1982 Zard Gulab Jeevni
Dhund Bella
Sarab Nashi
1983 Adhay Chehray Bushra
Silver Jubilee Herself
1984 Gardish Saba
1985 Bazgasht Nasreen
Apnay Loag Irene
1989 Neelay Hath Zainab
1990 Kache Pakke Rang Sakeena
1991 Kala Diara Angie
1992 Nasheman Parveen
1994 Sood-o-Zea Muneeza
1996 Qila Kahani Rubina
2010 Aik Aur Aurat Azra Hum TV

Telefilm

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Year Title Role Network
1990 Aakhri Geet Reshma PTV

Film

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Year Film Language
1975 Umang Urdu
Palki
1976 Insan Aur Farishta
Goonj Uthi Shehnai
Rastay Ka Pathar
1977 Tipu Sultan
1978 Khuda Aur Mohabbat
Dushman Ki Talash Urdu / Pashto
1980 Zamir Urdu
Samjhota
Aazmaish
1981 Dil Ek Khilona
Kiran Aur Kali
Bara Aadmi
1983 Kainat
1984 Aaj Ka Insan

Tribute and honours

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In 2019 on February 3 Pakistan National Council of the Arts paid tributes to her and described her a dignified, refined and polished artist.[17] In 2021 on August 16 the Government of Pakistan named a street and intersection after her in Lahore.[18]

Awards and recognition

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Year Award Category Result Title Ref.
1974 PTV Award Best Actress Won Zair, Zabar, Pesh [2]
1976 Nigar Award Special Award Won Insan Aur Farishta [19][2]
1978 Film Graduate Awards Best Actress Won Khuda Aur Mohabbat [2]
1981 Pride of Performance Award by the President of Pakistan Won Herself [2]
1981 Film Graduate Awards Best Actress Won Kiran Aur Kali [9]
1982 PTV Award Best Actress Nominated Karwan [2]
1983 Film Graduate Awards Best Actress Won Kainat [9]
1983 PTV Award Best Actress Won Dastak Na Do [2]
2010 9th Lux Style Awards Unilever Chairman's Lifetime Achievement Award Won Herself [2]
2011 1st Hum Awards Lifetime Achievement Award Won Herself [20]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Death of melancholy queen". Dawn (Newspaper). 25 February 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Versatile actor Roohi Bano passes away". Dawn (newspaper). Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  3. ^ a b c "Veteran actor Roohi Bano escapes murder attempt in Lahore". The Express Tribune (newspaper). 27 April 2015. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Sad but true: Roohi Bano's lonely 55th birthday". The Express Tribune (newspaper). 13 August 2015. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
  5. ^ "Angels of the fall". Dawn News. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  6. ^ "IN MEMORIAM: REMEMBERING ROOHI". Dawn. 24 December 2021.
  7. ^ a b "Famous actress Roohi Bano passes away in Turkey: Family". The News International (newspaper). 25 January 2019. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
  8. ^ Piyali Dasgupta (25 July 2013). "Roohi Bano lives a life of recluse wreck Lahore". Times of India (newspaper). Retrieved 27 June 2020.
  9. ^ a b c "Roohi Bano: The Soul Survivor". Newsline Magazine. 5 July 2022.
  10. ^ a b Ahmed, Shoaib (3 May 2015). "Roohi Bano: In and out of darkness". Dawn (newspaper). Retrieved 27 June 2020.
  11. ^ a b c d Arshad, Qasim (25 January 2019). "Renowned actress Roohi Bano passes away in Turkey". Dawn (newspaper). Retrieved 27 June 2020.
  12. ^ "Mandwa screens film 'Surriya Bhopali'". The News International. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  13. ^ Ahmad, Fouzia Nasir (4 May 2014). "Bringing Roohi Bano back". Dawn (newspaper). Retrieved 27 June 2020.
  14. ^ "Roohi Bano is well and at brother's house: sister". Geo News. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  15. ^ "Pakistan Television legend Roohi Bano passes away". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  16. ^ "TV actor Roohi Bano passes away in Turkey". Samaa TV News website. 25 January 2019. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
  17. ^ "Tribute paid to Roohi Bano at PNCA". Dawn. 23 May 2022.
  18. ^ "Lahore streets, intersections to be named after famous personalities". Dawn News. 10 November 2021.
  19. ^ "Pakistan's "Oscars"; The Nigar Awards". Desi Movies Reviews. Archived from the original on 22 July 2015. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  20. ^ "Spotlight: Hum and the awards". Dawn Newspaper. 1 January 2022.
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